Pedestal construction

ABSTRACT

THE DISCLOSURE IS DIRECTED TO A PEDESTAL COMPRISING A HOLLOW COLUMN WITH BEAMS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM AT LEAST ONE END AND CHARACTERIZED BY A CONSTRUCTION REQUIRING ONLY SAW CUTS TO PREPARE THE PARTS FOR ASSEMBLY. THE HOLLOW COLUMN IS A LENGTH OF EXTRUDED METAL FORMED WITH LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND RECTANGULAR-SHAPED OPENINGS THEREIN WITH OPEN-ENDED SAW-CUT SLOTS IN THE WALL OVERLYING THE OPENINGS. THE BEAMS ARE BARS HAVING OPPOSED SAW-CUT SLOTS FORMING RECTANGULAR ENDS. THE BEAMS ARE ASSEMBLED BY SLIDING THE RECTANGULAR END OF EACH BEAM INTO ONE OF THE OPENENDED SLOTS IN THE WALL OF THE COLUMN AND THE OPEN-ENDED SLOTS ARE OF A LENGTH NOT GREATER THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE BEAM TO LIMIT ITS SLIDING MOVEMENT ALONG THE COLUMN.

United States Patent Sigmund Bereday 11 Suchvllle, Bayamon, P.R. [21] Appl. No. 765,395

[22] Filed Oct. 7, 1968 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [72] lnventor [54] PEDESTAL CONSTRUCTION 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 248/188.1, 108/150, 248/188] [51] luLCl. ..Fl6m 11/20 [50] Field of Search 248/188],

1881,1888, 224,108/150,156,155,157,158, 159; 287/2092 (K), 56, 54 (A);3l2/255, 195, 194;2ll/l76, 177, 182

Primary Examiner Edward C. Allen Attorney-Curtis, Morris and Safford ABSTRACT: The disclosure is directed to a pedestal comprising a hollow column with beams extending outwardly from at least one end and characterized by a construction requiring only saw cuts to prepare the parts for assembly. The hollow column is a length of extruded metal formed with longitudinally extending and rectangular-shaped openings therein with open-ended saw-cut slots in the wall overlying the openings. The beams are bars having opposed saw-cut slots forming rectangular ends. The beams are assembled by sliding the rectangular end of each beam into one of the open-ended slots in the wall of the column and the open-ended slots are of a length not greater than the height of the beam to limit its sliding movement along the column.

PATENTEU JUN28 ISYI EYS PEDESTAL CONSTRUCTION The present invention relates to furniture and more particularly to an improved pedestal construction for supporting articles of furniture such as tables, desks, chairs and the like.

Pedestal supports having arms projecting radially from a central mast or post have heretofore been proposed for supporting articles of furniture, but such prior constructions have not been extensively used, probably because of their high cost of manufacture. Such pedestals usually have a central hub with slots in the side and into which radial arms with shaped ends are inserted and locked in position thereon by an enclosing sleeve. In these pedestal constructions the parts must be carefully machined to interlock with a close fit, which requires considerable time and labor to manufacture.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved pedestal support of simple and compact construction which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost and requires a minimum of manual labor.

Another object is to provide an improved pedestal construction for supporting articles of furniture which comprises a minimum number of parts, reduces the machining operations required and simplifies the kind of machine operations to ordinary saw cuts.

Still another object is to provide an improved pedestal construction in which interchangeable parts may be used for supporting different articles of furniture at either high or low levels.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawing, in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference'being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawing: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk and chair set, each having a pedestal construction incorporating the novel features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the top of the pedestal construction shown in FIG. 1 for supporting one end ofthe desk;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the pedestal support showing the upright column and beams interlocked with the ends of the column and projecting laterally therefrom in overlying relationship;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGS. 1 and 5 to show the slotted construction of the end of the column and beams to provide an interlocking assembly of the parts; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the pedestal assembly and showing the slotted ends of the beams and slotted bosses on the column which interlock when assembled with a press fit.

While the pedestal support of the present invention may be useful for other articles of furniture, it is shown in FIG. 1 applied to an office desk 1 and chair 2 for purposes of illustration. The desk 1 has identical pedestal supports 3 and 4 at its opposite ends while a single pedestal support is provided for the chair 2. Each support 3 and 4 for the desk 1 comprises a column 5 having a beam 6 projecting laterally from its lower end to rest on the floor and a beam 7 projecting laterally from its upper end and underlying a projecting ledge of the desk to which it is fastened. Beam 7 overlies the beam 6 so that the desk is supported from the floor by the pair of pedestal supports 3 and 4 and the force resulting from the weight of the desk is resolved in bending moments on the column 5. The chair 2, on the other hand, has a similar column 5a with a plurality of beams 8, 9, l and 11 projecting laterally from its lower end and engaging the floor either directly or indirectly and supporting a chair seat 12 at its upper end.

As the two pedestal supports 3 and 4 for the desk 1 are identical, a description for the pedestal support 3 as shown more in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 will also suffice for the other. The column may have any suitable shape in cross section and in the illustrated embodiment it is hollow and comprises a tubular wall 15 of generally cylindrical shape with enlarged rectangular bosses 16, 17, 18 and 19 arranged in opposed pairs and spaced apart around its periphery. Adjacent bosses are connected by curved surfaces at the exterior to provide a column of pleasing appearance. While four bosses are shown in the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that a greater or lesser number of bosses may be provided at the exterior of the column 5.

In the illustrated embodiment each boss 16, 17, 18 and 19 has a relatively narrow slot 16a, 17a, 18a and 19a, respectively, which extends radially outward fromthe interior of the hollow column through the cylindrical wall 15. Each of the narrow slots 16a, 17a, 18a and 190 has a rectangular enlargement 16b, 17b, 18b and 19b in its respective boss I6, l7, l8 and 19, and the outer side of each enlargement is closed by a peripheral wall section 160, 17c, 18c and 190. The closing wall sections 160, 17c, 18c and 190 are located inwardly from the outer dimension of the bosses 16, l7, l8 and 19 to provide opposed pairs of shoulders 16d16e, l7d-l7e, 18d-l8e and l9d-l9, which align with the opposite sides in the enlargements 16b, 17b, 18b and 19b.

One of the closing wall sections also has an open-ended slot 16f extending from the top of the column 5 and longitudinally of the boss 16 a distance equal to the longitudinal dimension of the beam 7. The open-ended slot 16f is located centrally of the closing wall section 160 and is of less width than the section to form opposed ribs 16g and 16h extending longitudinally of the boss.

The lower end of the column 5 has a shape similar to the upper end of the column with a corresponding open-ended slot 16f of a vertical dimension corresponding to the vertical dimension of the beam 6.

Column 5 may be made of metal, such as aluminum, extruded through a die in the shape illustrated in FIG. 2 to form the tubular wall 15 with radially projecting bosses 16, 17, 18 and 19 as described above. Sections of the extrusion may be cut to a required length to form a column 5 for the particular article of furniture to be supported. Thus, the columns 5 are interchangeable for supporting particular articles such as the desk 1 at the desired height.

Each of the beams 7 is in the form of a rectangular bar having opposed transverse slots 70 and 7b to form an enlarged end 7c which closely fits the enlargement 18b in the boss 18. Opposed slots 7d and 7e are cut in the opposite sides of beam 7 in longitudinally spaced relation to slots 7a and 7b to form a central enlargement 7f which closely fits the open space between the opposite sides of the circular wall 15 of the column. Also, another pair of opposed slots 73 and 7h are cut in the sides of the beams 6 and 7 to form an enlargement 7i which closely fits the enlargement 16b in boss 16 and provide recesses which closely fit the opposed ribs 163 and 16h as well as the opposed shoulders 16c and 16d to lock the beam against rotation on the end of the column 5. The beam 6 is similarly interlocked with column 5 at its lower end.

Thus, the manufacture of a pedestal support 3 or 4 requires only the labor of cutting a length of column 5 corresponding to the height of the desk to be supported, slotting the closure wall section 160, and slotting one end portion of beams 6 and 7 with opposed slots 7a7b, 7d-7e and 7g-7h. Such slots may be easily and quickly made by passing the ends of column 5 and opposite sides of the beams 6 and 7 across a saw blade. The slotted parts are then assembled by merely sliding the slotted end of the beam 6 or 7 into the shaped end of the column 5. The beams 6 and 7 may be inserted into the opposite ends of the column 5 with a press fit which will maintain the parts assembled so that no additional retaining means is required. If desired, however, an additional plate may be attached over the ends of the column to hold the parts assembled, but such a retaining plate would constitute additional parts and require additional machining. Once assembled, the beams 7 of each pedestal support 3 and 4 may be attached to the overhanging ledge at the ends of the desk. The desk then hangs on the beams 7, and the weight of the desk is supported by the spaced columns 5 of the pedestals 3 and 4 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

The same general arrangement of parts is used to provide a single pedestal support for the chair 2. In other words, the column 5a is identical 'with the column 5, previously described, but instead of having one beam which extends into two opposed bosses l6 and 18 and projects laterally from one side, the pedestal support for the chair has four beams projecting radially from the four bosses l6, l7, l8 and 19 at one end of the column. in this construction each of the closing wall sections 160, 17c, 18c and 19c has an open-ended slot 16f, 17f, l8fand 19f. Each of the beams 8, 9, 10 and 11, in turn, has opposed pairs of slots Ba-Sb, 9a-9b, 10a--10b and Ila-11b, to form enlargement 8c, 90, 10c and 11c which closely fits the enlargement 16b, 17b, 18b and 19b of the longitudinal slots 16a, 17a, 18a and 19a in the column 5 and closely fitting between the shoulder l6e-l6d, l7c-l7d, 18e-l8d and l9e-19 and a reduced neck portion which closely fits between the ribs l6gl6h, 17g-17h, 18g-18h and 19g- -l9h to interlock the beams with the column. As in the construction in FIGS. 2 and 3 as previously described, the ends of the beams 8, 9, l and 11 are assembled on the end of column 54 with a press fit. While a column with four equally spaced bosses 8, 9, 10 and llare shown and described it will be understood that a column having a lesser number of bosses, such as three, or a greater number of bosses may be used.

The open-ended slots 16f, 17f, 18f and 19f in the closing wall sections 160, 17c, 18c and 190 and opposed pairs of slots 8a-8b, 9a9b, 10a- 10b and lla-llb in the sides of the beams 8, 9, 10 and 11 may extend throughout the vertical dimension of the beams in the chair construction the same as in the desk construction. However, in the chair pedestal as illustrated in FIG. 4, the open-ended slots 16f, 17f, l8fand 19f extend for a distance of only one-half the vertical dimension of the beams, and the beams 8, 9, l0 and 11 have transverse slots 8i, 9i, 10i and lli extending therethrough at the location of the side slots Biz-8b, 9a-9b, l0al0b and lla-llb for a vertical dimension equal to substantially one-half the vertical dimension of the beams. Thus, when the beams 8, 9, l0 and 11 are assembled on the end of the column 50, the beams have opposed shoulders 8j-8k, 9j9k, l0j-l0k and llj-llk that additionally interlock with the tongues 16m, 17m, 18m and 19m on the column a to further strengthen the joint between the parts.-

The chair seat 12 has a plate 23 attached to its bottom and the plate has a depending post 24 which fits into the cylindri cal opening 25 of the hollow column 5 with an annular shoulder 26 to limit the downward movement of the post into the column. Although not shown, it will be understood that an adjusting mechanism may be provided for raising and lowering the post 24 in the upper end ofthe column. When the parts are assembled, the beams 7, 8, 9 and i0 may rest directly on the floor to support the chair 2, or casters 27 may be provided at the outer ends of the beams to mount the chair for rolling movement. If desired, a retaining plate 28 may be screwed onto the bottom of the column 5 to insure a retention of the end of the beams of the column, but it has been found that when the parts are assembled with a press fit such plates are unnecessary.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides an improved pedestal of a simple and compact construction to adapt it for economical manufacture and requiring a minimum of manual labor. It will further be observed that the present invention provides an improved pedestal construction for supporting articles having a minimum number of parts to reduce the machining operations and which further simplifies the kind of machining required. It will still further be observed that the present invention provides an improved pedestal construction in which interchangeable parts may be used for supporting different articles of furniture at either high or low levels.

While a single embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the column may be formed with a continuous cylindrical wall and longitudinal openings closed on four sides and then slotting the enclosing wall sections, or the outer wall section may be initially slotted. Therefore, without limitation in this respect, the invention, is defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A pedestal support for articles of furniture comprising a hollow column having a peripheral wall with at least one rectangular opening therein extending longitudinally throughout its length and located adjacent its outer-periphery, a section of the peripheral wall overlying and closing the outer side of the longitudinally extending opening therein, an openended slot in said wall section at one end of the column and of narrower width than the longitudinally extending opening to form longitudinal shoulders on the wall of the column at the interior and exterior of said wall section, a supporting beam having a rectangular end forming shoulders of the same shape and spacing as the shoulders in the column whereby to adapt the end of the supporting beam to slide into the end of the column and interlock with the longitudinal shoulders on the interior and exterior of the wall section at opposite sides of said slot to prevent relative turning movement on the column, and said slot being of a length longitudinally of the column not greater than the height of the beam to form a transverse shoulder engaged by the top of the beam to limit its sliding movement along the column for a distance no greater than its height.

2. A pedestal support in accordance with claim 1 in which the column is in the form of a generally cylindrical tube with rectangular bosses at opposite sides, the longitudinally extending opening being a radial slot extending through the wall of the cylindrical tube into a rectangular boss, and the closing wall section of the column having the open-ended slot therein being the outer sidewall of one of the bosses.

3. A pedestal support for articles of furniture comprising a hollow column having a peripheral wall with at least one rectangular opening therein extending longitudinally throughout its length and located adjacent its outer periphery, a section of the peripheral wall overlying and closing the outer side of the longitudinally extending opening therein, an openended slot in said wall section at each end of the column on the same side and of narrower width than the longitudinally extending opening to form longitudinal shoulders on the wall of the column at the interior and exterior of said wall section, a supporting beam mounted in each of the slots, each beam having a rectangular end forming shoulders of the same shape and spacing as the shoulders in the column whereby to adapt the end of the supporting beam to slide into the end of the column and interlock with the longitudinal shoulders on the interior and exterior of the wall section at opposite sides of said slot to prevent relative turning movement on the columns, said slots being of a length longitudinally of the column not greater than the height of the beams to form transverse shoulders engaged by the top and bottom of the beams, respectively, to limit their sliding movement along the columns for a distance no greater than their height, and one of the beams resting on the floor and the other beam underlying an article to support at least one side thereof.

4. A pedestal support for articles of furniture comprising a hollow column having a peripheral wall with at least one rectangular opening therein extending longitudinally throughout its length and located adjacent its outer periphery, a section of the peripheral wall overlying and closing the outer side of the longitudinally extending opening therein, an open ended slot in said wall section at each end of the column on the same side and of narrower width than the longitudinally extending opening to form longitudinal shoulders on the wall of the column at the interior and exterior of said wall section, a supporting beam mounted in each of the slots, each beam having a rectangular end forming shoulders of the same shape and spacing as the shoulders in the column whereby to adapt the end of the supporting beam to slide into the end of the column and interlock with the longitudinal shoulders on the interior and exterior of the wall section at opposite sides of said slot to prevent relative turning movement on the column, said slots being of a length longitudinally of the column not greater than the height of the beams to form transverse shoulders engaged by the top and bottom of the beams, respectively, to limit their sliding movement along the columns for a distance no greater than their height one of the beams resting on the floor and the other beam underlying an article to be supported, a pair of pedestal supports being provided in spaced relation, and each pedestal support having a column with parallel beams underlying the article to be supported.

5. A pedestal support in accordance with claim 1 in which the column has at least three longitudinally extending openings, radial slots in wall sections at one end of the column in angularly spaced relation, beams in each of the slots to form a pedestal, and an article of furniture mounted on the other end of the column.

6. A pedestal support in accordance with claim 5 in which the article of furniture mounted on the other end of the column is a chair seat having a depending post projecting into the open end of the hollow column.

7. A pedestal support in accordance with claim 1 in which the longitudinally extending opening in the column is a radial slot in its peripheral wall and having an enlargement of generally rectangular shape, the open-ended slot in the closing wall section forming spaced ribs extending along one side of the enlargement, and the beam being in the form of a bar having slots cut in the opposite sides thereof of a width substantially equal to the width of the ribs and extending a distance from the end thereof substantially equal to the radial dimension of the enlargement.

8. A pedestal support for articles of furniture comprising a hollow column having a peripheral wall forming a central opening, a pair of longitudinally extending openings in said wall in the form of radial slots at diametrically opposite sides of the axis, a section of the peripheral wall overlying and closing the outer side of the longitudinally extending openings therein, an open-ended slot in said wall section at one end of the column and of narrower width than the longitudinally extending openings, the radial slots and open-ended slot forming separate pairs of ribs at opposite sides of the central opening of the hollow column and provide longitudinal shoulders in the wall of the column, and a supporting beam in the form of a bar of generally rectangular shape in cross section and having slots cut in its opposite sides in alignment with the separate pairs of ribs in the column to provide shoulders of the same shape and spacing as the shoulders in the column whereby to adapt the bar to be assembled on the column to form a pedestal by sliding the end of the bar longitudinally of the column with the slots in alignment with the ribs and with the enlarged sections between the end of the-bar and slots therein aligning with the central opening and the space between the radial and open-ended slots and .interlocking with the peripheral wall at the sides of said slots to prevent relative turning movement on the column.

9. A pedestal support for articles of furniture comprising a hollow column having a peripheral wall with at least one longitudinally extending opening therein located adjacent its outer periphery, said longitudinally extending opening being a radial slot in its peripheral wall and having an enlargement of generally rectangular shape, a section of the peripheral wall overlying and -at least partially closing the outer side of the longitudinally extending opening therein, an open-ended slot in said wall section at one end of the column and of narrower width than the longitudinally extending opening to form spaced ribs extending longitudinally along one side of the enlargement, and a supporting beam in the form of a bar having slots cut in the opposite sides thereof of a width substantially equal to the width of the ribs to form shoulders for alignment with and of the same shape and spacing as the ribs in the column and with an end portion beyond the slots extending a distance substantially equal to the radial dimension of the en- -lar ement whereby to adapt the end of the supportin beam to 

